Kolkata Knight Riders’ bowling coach Wasim Akram on Tuesday said that captain Gautam Gambhir’s leadership and the team bonding is responsible for its success in the IPL and the ongoing Oppo Champions League T20.

“The credit for the success of any team goes to the captain first, the way he has led the troops in IPL and here (CLT20); best thing about KKR is, it is like a family, including the manager, including the staff as well. We enjoy each other’s company; this is the sign of any good team.

“We support each other. The foreign players have also become a part of the team. Those who could not come due to injuries like Morne Morkel...there is a group formed on WhatsApp, they send messages like congratulations after the match,” he told reporters ahead of tomorrow’s match against Perth Scorchers here.

Though KKR have won the two matches it has played so far in the tournament, it would like to give their best shot without taking the Australian side likely, he said.

“Every game is important, although we have won two out of two, nobody knows who qualifies or not. From our end, we would like to do well in every game to be on top of our group but the opposition tomorrow is also a very good side...the champions of Australia they have three spinners. The spinners are more handy so far in this Champions League than the fast bowlers,” Akram said.

Akram appreciated Gambhir for his approach in playing a T20 match. “Our skipper has been in good form. I reckon he is one of the best captains in this Champions League because his psyche is to get wickets in T20. The only way you can stop runs is to get wickets. If you have noticed, after six overs or eight overs, instead of bowling part-time bowlers he tries to get wickets. I think that is the key to his success,” he said.

Replying to a query, Akram said the pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad is one of the best he has seen in India.

“I reckon this is the best square I have seen in India so far. Definitely one of the best squares I have seen in India, there is a grass as well on the pitch. It is more like an Australian sort of pitch,” he said.

After Kolkata, Akram said, Hyderabad has become a home away from home for the team with the spectators coming out in great support to the team.

To another query, he said Jacques Kallis had a problem in the neck but he is feeling better and fit now, he said. He said Kuldeep Yadav in the KKR squad has great talent and described him as the “star of the future”.

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